Microbial Biotechnology and Vaccines: Key Concepts

Flashcards cover core concepts from the lecture notes on microbial biotechnology, vaccines, smallpox eradication, and early recombinant protein production.

Who is considered the father of microscopy?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.

Microbes on Earth account for what share of life?

More than 60% of all life on Earth.

Why must the microbial growth environment be carefully controlled?

To keep growth in the exponential (prime) stage by providing nutrients and avoiding accumulation of toxic byproducts.

Name the typical growth phases of microbes.

Lag phase, Exponential (log) phase, and Stationary phase.

What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?

A pandemic spreads across a wide geographical area; an epidemic is localized/contained.

List some diseases considered pandemics.

Ebola, Smallpox, HIV, Zika, Covid-19 (Spanish Flu is a historical example).

When did the Black Death outbreak begin?

In the 14th century.

Who is credited with the discovery of vaccines and who contributed earlier?

Edward Jenner is credited; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and others contributed earlier work.

What was the period of the WHO smallpox eradication program?

1966–1980.

How does the smallpox vaccine confer immunity?

By using a virus closely related to smallpox (cowpox) to produce a mild infection that immunizes.

When was endemic smallpox eradicated?

1977 (with one accidental death in 1978).

Where are smallpox virus stocks kept?

In two places worldwide: the United States and Russia.

How can vaccines be made without infecting a person?

By expressing genes from the pathogen in non-pathogenic organisms to produce the antigen.

Name the main generations/types of vaccines mentioned.

Killed vaccines, attenuated vaccines, toxoids, subunit vaccines, DNA vaccines (3rd generation), RNA vaccines (4th generation).

What is a DNA vaccine?

A vaccine that uses DNA encoding an antigen delivered to host cells to produce the antigen.

What is an RNA vaccine?

An RNA (mRNA) vaccine that codes for an antigen; host cells produce the antigen and elicit immunity.

Why was the Covid vaccine testing phase rushed?

Due to an urgent global health crisis, testing phases were accelerated.

What is herd immunity?

A state where enough people are immune to prevent disease spread, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated.

What vaccination rate was suggested to achieve herd immunity?

Approximately 90% of the population; 100% vaccination is not necessary.

Why didn’t herd immunity work well for Covid?

The virus mutates easily, allowing transmission and immune escape even with vaccination.

What was the role of pigs in insulin production before recombinant methods?

Insulin was historically obtained from pig pancreases; large quantities yielded only small amounts of insulin, with some people developing resistance to non-human insulin.